Celtic’s German Hoodoo: Can the Hoops Make History in Munich?
Some stats from UEFA.com…
Record vs German clubs: W5 D5 L21 F25 A55
Away record vs German clubs: W0 D3 L12
Celtic had already played two fixtures against German opponents in this season’s Champions League before this tie, losing 7-1 at Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 2 before a 3-1 home defeat of Leipzig. That Matchday 4 success ended Celtic’s run of five successive defeats against Bundesliga opponents, with four goals scored and 19 conceded.
A 2-1 UEFA Europa League group stage win against Leipzig in November 2018 is Celtic’s only other victory in their last 18 games against German opponents (D3 L13) and one of only two in the last 11 they have not lost. Celtic has never won in Germany, where they have lost their last five matches and ten of the last 12.
This is Celtic’s first knockout tie in Germany since a 5-4 aggregate win against Stuttgart in the 2002/03 UEFA Cup fourth round that made their two-legged record against Bundesliga clubs W2 L5.
Celtic has won only one of their last 15 European away games, losing 11. This season they have gone down at Dortmund on Matchday 2 before 0-0 draws at UEFA Europa League holders Atalanta and GNK Dinamo and a 2-4 Matchday 8 loss at Aston Villa.
Home and away, Celtic have won only six of their last 41 games in the Champions League proper (D9 L26) – but four of the last ten.
Celtic have lost the first home leg of a UEFA tie nine times previously and have recovered to win only one – against Dinamo Moskva in the third qualifying round of the 2009/10 Champions League (0-1 h, 2-0 a). The sole previous 1-2 defeat helped end their defence of the European Cup in the 1967/68 first round against Dynamo Kyiv (1-1 a).
Celtic looking for first-ever competitive win on German soil
Celtic travel to Bavaria for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off against Bayern Munich, knowing they stand on the brink of history. A victory at the Allianz Arena would not only send the Hoops through to their first knockout stage triumph since 2003 but also mark their first-ever competitive win on German soil—a feat that has eluded them since the club’s foundation in 1888.
Celtic’s Tough History in Germany
Celtic have faced German opposition on numerous occasions, but results away from home have been tough to come by. From battles with Borussia Dortmund in the 1960s to modern clashes against RB Leipzig, the Hoops have often come close but never quite crossed the finish line. Earlier encounters against the likes of Werder Bremen and Hamburg failed to see a Celtic triumph in the away matches in Germany.
One of the most memorable ties came in 2003 when Celtic defeated VfB Stuttgart over two legs in the UEFA Cup, progressing thanks to a dramatic aggregate win. However, even on that famous run to the final in Seville, their 3-2 second-leg defeat in Germany continued the winless streak however the tie was won in Germany thanks to Celtic’s 3-1 first leg win at Celtic Park.
Celtic were 2-0 up in that second leg in Stuttgart so really should have secured a first ever win for Celtic on German soil.
In more recent years, encounters with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen, and RB Leipzig have further highlighted the challenge of playing in Germany. Despite some spirited performances, Celtic have yet to claim a historic victory in the country.
Echoes of Rome?
A similar statistic hung over Celtic’s European record until just a few years ago—until 2019, they had never won a game in Italy. That all changed when Neil Lennon’s side stunned Lazio with a last-gasp 2-1 victory in Rome, a night that will forever be remembered by the travelling support. That win shattered a long-standing barrier, proving that history is there to be rewritten.
Tomorrow night, Celtic have the chance to do the same in Germany. With the tie finely balanced at 2-1 after the first leg, Brendan Rodgers’ side need a win to progress—something no Celtic team has ever done in Germany.
Celtic’s Chance to Make History
Not only is this a chance to break our German hoodoo, but it’s also an opportunity for Celtic to achieve something they haven’t done in over 20 years—win a European knockout tie. The last time the Hoops managed that was during their 2003/04 UEFA Cup run, when they overcame Barcelona 1-0 on aggregate with Alan Thompson scoring the only goal of the tie in the first leg at Celtic Park.
Brendan Rodgers looking to make history
Brendan Rodgers and his squad have already shown they can compete at this level, pushing Bayern all the way at Celtic Park. Now, they must take the next step and secure a win that would go down as one of the greatest in the club’s modern history.
Could tomorrow night be Celtic’s Lazio moment in Germany? If they can rise to the occasion, it will be a night talked about for generations to come. Daizen Maeda has already scored in Germany this season in the Champions League and Bayer looked rather scared of him last Wednesday night when he moved to centre-forward.
Incidentally, have you heard the Bhoys Celtic’s innovative new Maeda song which Daizen was loving when warming up on Saturday with the others subs behind the goal at the Jock Stein stand?
Have a listen to the video posted by Tam sellic son…that ‘Maeda’ shout would be amazing if the whole stadium got involved….Daizen certainly deserves it and even more so if he can help Celtic qualify tomorrow night.
— Tam sellic son (@TamseIIicsonIII) February 15, 2025
Dubai Bhoy
